Utility cabinet for sewing machines



Nov. 17, 1970 R. A. LUNDQUIST UTILITY CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 23, 1968 INVENTOR. RAY ARNOLD L NDQU T' Nov. 17, 1970 R. A. LUNDQUIST 3,540,788

UTILITY CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 23, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 ,H gg/ 2 J Q 5 m E a; 0'

INVENTOR.

RAV ARNOLD LUNDQUST v Nov. 17, 1970 R. A. LUNDQUIST 3,540,783

UTILITY CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. RAY ARNOLD LUN DQUIST Nov. 17, 1970 R. A. LUNDQUIST UTILITY CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 23, 1968 mm PS riflf/l/lfllIl/f/ INVENTOR. rem ARNOLD Luno msT United States Patent 3,540,788 UTILITY CABINET FOR SEWING MACHINES Ray A. Lundquist, 129 Burr Ave., Northport, N.Y. 11768 Filed Aug. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 754,920 Int. Cl. A47b 83/00 11.8. Cl. 312-237 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A generally rectangular upright enclosure provided with a hinged front door closure conceals one or more upwardly tiltable surfaces which can be swung outwardly for holding a sewing machine or to provide a work surface and also provides means for storing a sewing machine and accessories to the machine, such as a foot pedal control; and storage for other sewing equipment, such as shears, needles, thread, patterns, etc.

This invention relates to household furniture and, more particularly to a cabinet including a work surface for a sewing machine which may be folded up for concealment when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of the aforementioned character in which a pair of work surfaces may be concealed when not in use, one of the Work surfaces being adapted for use with a portable sewing machine, the other of the work surfaces being suitable for use in the sewing and cutting out of garments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following specification in connection with the annexed drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred form of utility cabinet constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention with the closure being in the closed position; FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the cabinet with the closure means in open position and with a supporting surface for a sewing machine in the extended position; FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 with the exception that a work surface is also shown in a position for use; FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the enclosure shown in FIG. 1 with the working surface and the support for a sewing machine in the concealed position with the closure means in the open position; FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and; FIG. 6 is a cross section similar to that of FIG. 5 but with both of the work surfaces in their open positions and with the support for a sewing machine pedal control in its operative position.

In the drawings, a generally rectangular, upright, six sided enclosure, or cabinet, is indicated generally by numeral 10 which is supported on the floor, as by means of a pair side panels 11 and 12, extending from the front to the back of the enclosure. The cabinet is provided with closure means, such as the doors 13 and 14, which are hingedly connected with the sides of the enclosure. The lower edges of the doors are spaced from the floor; and, in order to preserve an attractive appearance for the enclosure, the space below the door is covered by horizontally extending panels 15 and 16, the panel 16 being connected with the enclosure by means of a vertical pivotal connection 17 positioned medially of the width of the enclosure. One of the doors, such as the door 14, may be provided on the inner side with a full-length mirror 18; while the other door, such as the door 13, may be provided with a plurality of shelves 19.

Contained within the enclosure when in the concealed position, are a pair of work surfaces indicated generally by numerals 20 and 21 respectively. The work surface 20 includes a fiat tabletop 22, one end of which is pivot- 3,540,788 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 "Ice ally connected at 23 with the interior of the enclosure 10 at a level such that, when the top is disposed horizontally, it will be at a height suitable for operating a sewing machine. The other end of the tabletop, or surface 22, is provided with a pair of legs 23, which may be joined by a cross piece 24 and pivotally connected at their upper ends 25 with the free end of the surface 22, so that when the tabletop is in its extended position the legs Will support the surface. Cross piece 24 may also be recessed (as shown in cross section in FIGS. 5 and 6) to provide a receptacle for accesories, patterns and other materials. The surface 22 is also provided with a rectangular opening, or well 26, designed to removably receive a portable sewing machine (not shown) in accordance with conventional practice.

The other work surface 21 preferably comprises two fiat surfaces 27 and 28, these surfaces being hingedly connected to each other along a common marginal edge 29, the surface 27 being pivotally connected at 30 with the interior of the cabinet at a point above the connection for the other tabletop 22. The free end of the surface 28 may be provided with a pair of depending legs 31, pivotally connected therewith at 32. It will be seen that this articulated construction of the work surface 21 permits it to extend outwardly from the enclosure, beyond the surface which is used for holding the sewing machine, while at the same time it permits it to be folded upwardly into the enclosure when not in use, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Further, a pair of short depending legs 33 may be pivotally connected, as at 34, adjacent the hinged connection 29 so that when the surface 21 is in use, the short legs 33 may rest upon the lower work surface 20 in order to support the upper working surface.

On the rear surface of the panel 16, there may be a small attached ledge, or shelf 35, which serves as a support for the usual foot pedal control (not shown) which is used to control the operation of a sewing machine. When the panel is swung outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2, the shelf and its attached ledge can be controlled by the position of a downwardly projecting stop 36, as shown in FIG. 6, which abuts against one end of the panel 16. On the other hand, when the foot pedal is not in use, the panel 16 may be swung back- Wardly in place to conceal the ledge and to present a finished appearance to the enclosure shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the free end of the panel 16 will abut against the front end of the supporting panel 11. Space for the storage of a conventional portable sewing machine is provided in the area indicated by numeral 37 within the enclosure; and in addition, a plurality of shelves 38 can also be provided adjacent the storage area.

Having disclosed one form in which the invention may be practiced, it will be apparent that various modifications and improvements may be made which would come within the scope of the annexed claims:

I claim:

1. In a utility cabinet for sewing machines comprising a generally rectangular, vertically disposed, six-sided enclosure having at least one vertically hinged front closure for exposing the interior of the enclosure, a flat surface means having one end hingedly connected with the interior of the enclosure at a medial horizontal level for concealment within the enclosure in one position and for positioning in a horizontal plane in a second position when said closure means is open, said flat surface means including vertical support means for the other end thereof when in said second position, said flat surface means being provided with an open well for removably supporting a sewing machine, said cabinet having space in the lower portion thereof for storing a sewing machine when not in use, and movable foot pedal support means con- 3 nected with said cabinet for positioning a foot pedal below a sewing machine when in use and for concealment when not in use.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein fiat surface means have a width substantially equal to the width of the interior of the enclosure.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said flat surface means tilt upwardly into the enclosure for concealment, and said enclosure is provided with a plurality of shelf means below the level of said surface means.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the lower end of said front closure terminates at a level above the level of the floor, and said foot pedal support means includes a horizontally extending panel comprising at least a portion of the lower front surface of the enclosure when not in use.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said panel is attached to the enclosure by a vertical pivotal connection positioned medially of the width of the enclosure.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said enclosure is supported on the floor by a pair of side panels, the free end of said panel included in the foot pedal support means abutting against the front end of one of the side panels when not in use.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, wherein stop means is provided for limiting pivotal movement of the foot pedal support means when in use.

8. In utility cabinets of the type wherein a generally upright rectangular enclosure is provided with a front closure door means connected with the enclosure by vertical hinge means for exposing the entire interior of the cabinet, the combination including first and second flat surface means, each said surface means being hingedly connected with the enclosure at a medial horizontal level for concealment within the enclosure in one position and for positioning in a horizontal plane in another position, movable support means for the respective other ends of said first and second surface means for concealment in the enclosure when not in use, one of said flat surface means being provided with a well for removably supporting a sewing machine.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said flat surface means fold upwardly into the enclosure for concealment, one of said flat surface means being articulated for said concealment and being longer than the other surface means when extended in use.

10. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said enclosure is also provided with support means for a foot pedal control, said support means being movable attached for concealment when not in use and for positioning a foot pedal below said well for a sewing machine.

11. The invention defined in claim 10, wherein said foot pedal support means includes a horizontal arm pivotally connected with the enclosure means at one end.

12. The invention defined in claim 11, wherein said arm swings about a vertical axis, and said enclosure includes stop means for limiting movement of the foot pedal support means when in use.

13. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said enclosure includes space in the lower portion thereof for storing a sewing machine.

14. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said flat surface means provided with a well is hingedly connected with the enclosure at a level lower than that of the hinged connection for the other of said fiat surface means, and both said flat surface means tilt upwardly independently into the enclosure for concealment.

15. The invention defined in claim 14, wherein said other flat surface means extends outwardly beyond the flat surface means provided with a well when in use.

16. The invention defined in claim 15, wherein said other fiat surface means is articulated for concealment within the enclosure.

17. The invention defined in claim 16, wherein the movable support means for said fiat surface means includes a leg pivotally attached to said articulated surface means for engagement with the other fiat surface means when in use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 147,572 2/1874 Range 3 l2-208 413,842 10/1889 Ball 312237 685,248 10/1901 'Bowring et al. 3 l2-237 1,700,545 1/ 1929 Sanders 312-237 X NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner 

